At the other end of the PV spectrum from the big, powerful 18650 mechanicals (and even farther from behemoths like the 28650-based mods) sit the minis; the small, unassuming devices with small batteries. These are the things the uninitiated think of when they hear “e-cigarette:” something the size of a cigarette that, more often than not, works like one, too.
The eRoll works in much the same way a larger PV would. It contains a small atomizer and a tiny plastic tank, and when activated, the atomizer vaporizes the juice in the tank and the vapor is drawn through the tip. Those familiar with the eGo starter kits are probably familiar with the type of atomizer used, and the small tanks which are punctured by the atomizer when the pieces are assembled. The setup is basically identical to that type of eGo configuration, only much smaller.
With that decrease in size comes a very short battery life. We’ve found the 90 mAh battery to last, on average, not much longer than it would take to go through two or three cigarettes. The eRoll works around this limitation with a PCC, or Portable Charging Case. The PCC is essentially a combination of a carrying case and battery charger. It has a USB connection which is used to charge the case, and that case then becomes a portable 1000 mAh battery that can be used to charge the eRoll on the go. The PCC has the capability to recharge an eRoll multiple times between having to recharge the PCC. This allows the user to keep one of the two eRolls that come in a kit in the PCC, charged up and ready to go, while using the other. Unfortunately, the PCC only holds one eRoll. This unfortunate design decision means that, while one eRoll is charging, the other must be kept somewhere else. As the eRoll is very small — even smaller than the average cigarette — allowing them both to be placed in the PCC at once would lessen the chance of losing or misplacing the second when it is not in use.
Another limitation of the device, and a result of its small size, is that the eRoll does not hold much juice; only a few drops. It’s enough for roughly the equivalent of a cigarette or two, and approximately the same amount of time it takes to drain the battery. This means the eRoll will need to be refilled often, and it’s not really an easy device to refill. The tank must be separated from the charger, and then juice dripped, through a small hole, into the tank. While a needle-tipped bottle or syringe works fine for this purpose, it is one more piece of hardware the eRoll user will have to carry around. A small dropper that fit into the case would have been a very handy addition to the kit.
However, for all its drawbacks, the eRoll performs very well. Vapor production is quite good for such a small device; definitely on par with the best we’ve seen from other offerings of its size. While the battery may not last long, while it holds a charge it does an impressive job of vapor production. Flavor may not be quite on par with larger devices, but many will be willing to live with this in trade for a device which is easily small enough to discretely carry almost anywhere.
How would we rate this little vaporizer?
Build Quality: 8/10
Our eRoll kits have held up well to being thrown in a purse or pocket and carried everywhere. They are small enough to have been dropped repeatedly, and just keep going. The hinges on the magnetically-latched PCC have withstood opening and closing more times than we can count. All in all, while dainty, the eRoll has proven to be a hardy little device. If we have a complaint, it would be that the finish of the PCC is quite prone to scratching, and will start to show signs of use almost immediately.
Looks: 9/10
The eRoll looks classy. Available in black, white or silver-tone finishes, it is slim, stylish, and the brass-colored accents are a nice touch. Some on the squad have expressed that they would like more LED color options than the default blue, but admit that it’s really not a big deal, especially considering that you can’t even really see the LED when the eRoll is being used.
Flexibility: 6/10
All of the flexibility of the eRoll comes in the form of its portability. You have no battery or atomizer options: you can use what comes in the kit, or identical replacements, but there is no standard threading or sockets for things like cartomizers or drip tips, and no other options available for the eRoll. It is what it is.
Performance: 8/10
For its size, the eRoll does an outstanding job with flavor and vapor production. The tiny batteries produce much more output than we expected. However, possibly because of the high output, the area of the eRoll around the atomizer can get quite hot, making it uncomfortable to hold in the same way one would hold a cigarette. While this is something relatively easy to get used to, not being able to hold something that looks so much like a cigarette in the same way one would hold an actual cigarette is a relatively significant drawback.
Price: 7/10
The eRoll seems to retail for a bit over the $50 mark. While that amount isn’t a drop in the bucket, it compares very favorably to similar rechargeable offerings from vendor such as Blu, V2, and others, most of which seem to be priced closer to $100, and the eRoll handily outperforms many, if not most, of those more expensive devices.
Overall Score: 7.6
eRoll by Joyetech
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